Michael W.
Yelp
A planned visit to this important museum was long overdue. Having been to the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C., the Holocaust Exhibition at the Imperial War Museum in London, as well as the Deportation Martyrs Memorial in Paris, and viewing numerous films and documentaries, I was familiar on the subject matter. However, the visit here greatly exceeded our expectations. We chose to visit on a Sunday, as they are open a bit longer. The light traffic, and getting there just before opening, was a smart move.
Security here is understandable much higher than most places. Free parking is underground . We had 10:30am tickets, but after a security screening, we were allowed in early. The desk agent and the docents were all very informative and friendly. They do sell out often, so it is recommended you book the timed entry tickets online. They offer student & senior discounts. Give yourself plenty of time, if wanting to attend any special events. We spent the entire day; it was so worth it. Manage your time. DO NOT be late for the speakers, or films. It is just plain rude. There are floor map panels on the wall by the elevators, but a small brochure map of the various floors would be a helpful handout (hint-hint).
The bottom floor has the main Holocaust exhibit. It features audio/visual dioramas that are on a timed rotation. You move thru a layout like maze, in a kind of chronology, of what led to the final solution. At the start, you take a small card that's inserted into a kiosk telling the story of a person imprisoned in a concentration camp. At the end, you insert the card and it then gives you a printout, telling what happed to them. (Unfortunately, my printer was not working, it just took the card.) Another in our group picked a better kiosk and got his printed results. Oh well.
The upper floor houses the Anne Frank exhibit, and a small auditorium for speakers. They were experiencing some technical issues, so the video monitors were blank. Photos, artifacts, letters, and other displays were still good. The quilted wall is well done, and significant in numbers. We also wanted to hear the speaker/survivor. So, we luckily found the door to the auditorium, and got upfront seating. 98-year-old Ella was riveting. No notes, all done by memory. She recalled gut wrenching events with clarity, and was stoic when describing very personal loss. The audience and myself, were emotionally affected by her testimony. My friend's Father was an American Soldier who helped liberate Dachau. After, he spoke with Ella, and took a picture with her.
Lastly, there was a special screening of the 2023 documentary "Unbroken," about seven siblings who were in hiding on a farm in Germany during the War. The large theater on the main floor was beautiful and had comfortable seating. Their escape and fateful trip to the U.S, and a heartwarming reunion was so moving and inspirational. A Q&A with the director, Beth Lane, (who's mom was the youngest daughter) was also hosted by dignitaries from several countries. The gift store was closed by the time we left, but you can buy online. We went on Jan 26th, so fortunate for the many events scheduled. If you plan to go on a weekday, you may have to deal with tours of grade-schoolers, so there that. We did not have enough time, so we skipped the Social Lab. You seriously must go!